Striping dispenser



Nov. 24, 1959 L.. l.. MARRAFFINO 2,914,220

STRIPING DISPENSER Filed Aprilv 19, 1957 INVENTOR. LEONARD l.. MARRAFFINO @.gfw, w MJL his ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O srnrPrNo DISPENSER Leonard L. Marrarhno, Mount Vernon, N.Y., assigner of one-half to John J. Spero Application April 19, l1957, Serial No. 653,822

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-145) This invention, generally, relates to devices for dispensing fluent materials and, more particularly, to devices for dispensing two or more fluent materials of different character.

`In one of its aspects, the present invention contemplates an improvement in the structure of a container designed for dispensing fluent or paste-like materials whereby certain advantages are realized. One of these advantages is the increased simplicity of assembly of `striping dispensers. Another advantage of a structure of a form contemplated by this invention is that the simplicity and the arrangement of the parts permits increased I economy in the production process.

Therefore, a principal object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device for dispensing a striped paste-like material.

It is also an important obiect of the invention to provide an improved dispensing device capable of increased ease in assembly and greater economy in production.

Generally, the invention provides a hollow tubular member which is slightly larger in outside diameter than the discharge or outlet passageway of the dispenser. The hollow tubular member when inserted into the dispenser, will be positioned automatically by the inner sloping surface of the forward end of the dispenser. No special recess need be `formed at the inner end of the outlet passageway since the hollow tubular member merely rests against the sloping surface. The opposite end of the hollow tubular member from the outlet passageway is supported and maintained in a substantially aligned position by a suitable support member. In this manner, the connecting passageway formed by the hollow tubular member is maintained in ycommunication with the outlet passageway of the dispenser.

A representative embodiment of the invention from which the above and other features and objects thereof will be readily understood from the description following having reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view partly in section of one form of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective of the preferred construction for the support member of the invention.

For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the dispensing device is to be used to dispense tooth paste in a striped form, it being understood that the invention is not limited to tooth paste or tothe characteristics of the paste materials described.

In carrying out the invention, a conventional disposable aluminum tube dispenser lil is provided with a threaded head end l1 having a plurality of threads 12 for securing a cap (not shown). Positioned Within the sloping forward end 13 of the dispenser 10 is a hollow tubular member 14, which defines a connecting passageway between the chamber 15, defined by the dispenser 10, and the outlet passageway 16 within the head end 11. The invention is concerned with maintaining the connecting passageway deiined by the hollow tubular 2,914,220 'Patented Nov. 24, 1959 fice member 14 in communication between the chamber 15 and the outlet passageway 116.

To maintain the hollow tubular member 1-4 in position, a supporting bracket 17 is located about the inner end of the member 14 furthermost from the outlet passageway 16. To show this supporting bracket 17 more clearly, reference is made to Figure 2 of the drawing, wherein a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the supporting bracket 17 is shown.

A central ring 18 is formed with an inside diameter such that it fits snugly about the outer surface of the hollow tubular member 14. Attached to the central ring 18 and extending radially therefrom is a plurality of spokes 19 which terminate at an outer ring 20. The outer diameter of the ring 20 is such that it iits snugly within the chamber 15 as shown in Figure l. The hollow tube 14, and its supporting bracket 17, form a fixture readily applicable to standard forms of dispensing tubes. With this construction, the support member 17 may be manufactured integrally with the hollow tubular member 14 or the support member 17 and the hollow tubular member 14 may be manufactured as separate units and assembled prior to insertion into the dispenser 10. With the hollow tubular member 14 and the support member 17 assembled, the two are inserted into the dispenser 10 from the initially open end 21, which end 21 is sealed along the edge 22 after the dispenser 10 is filled' 14 rests against the inside sloping surface 13, and seats against the inner edge of outlet passageway V16. In this position, the hollow tubular member 14 is substantially rigid and the connecting passageway is maintained in communication with the outlet passageway 16.

After the tubular member 14 and support member 17 are inserted, the dispenser is then charged with the material which is to form the stripes. This striping material lls the head end of the dispenser 10, but not past the inner end of the tubular member 14. Then, the balance of the dispenser 10 is filled with the material which is to form the body of the striped stream, as for example, white tooth paste. The end 21 of the dispenser 10 is then sealed in the usual manner.

IIn operation, pressure is applied to the dispenser 10 in the customary manner, which pressure is transmitted longitudinally in a forward direction to extrude the tooth paste through the tubular member 14 and outlet passageway 16. At the same time, the tooth paste applies pressure on the striping material by pressing forward between the spaced apart spokes 19 to extrude stripes through the striping port 25. The resultant product which emerges from the discharge port 26 is a striped tooth paste product.

It is important to note that alternative modifications suggest themselves such as, for example, the zone deiined by the chamber 15 and the zone defined by the space between the sloping forward end 13 and the outer surface of the tubular member 14may be kept in separation by a means such as a layer of wax 23, or the like. lt is not essential in all cases that a separation be used and it is not essential to the present invention. It is merely pointed out that a dispensing device in accordance with the present invention is susceptible to the use of a partition such as a wax layer. The wax layer 23 is illustrated in Figure l of the drawing to show its relative position with respect to the support member 17, should the use of such a separation be desired.

Also, a further modification which suggests itself by the description of the present invention is that with the position of the hollow tubular member 14 at the inner end of the outlet passageway 16, the grooves 24 may not be essential in some cases. It is only necessary that the striping ports 25 be provided in order to communicate the space between the sloping forward end 13 and the hollow tubular member 14 with the outlet passageway 16. Therefore, with this modication, the hollow tubular member 14 may be entirely cylindrical en its outer surface with the exception of the striping port 25.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. One example would be a disc with a plurality of perforations substituted for the spokes described above, the essential characteristics of the support member being that suilicient space must be provided to permit pressure from the iluent material in the main portion of the dispenser to be transmitted to the fluent material positioned about the hollow tubular member. Since the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely illustrative, Vand not as being restricted, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

-I claim:

1. A device for dispensing tluent materials which comprises a container defining a chamber, said chamber having an outlet passageway including a discharge port at one end opening externally of said chamber, a separate hollow tubular member having one end seated against the inner edge of said outlet passageway and extending back into said chamber, said hollow tubular member defining a connecting passageway between said chamber and said outlet passageway, and spoked support means within said chamber attached to and cooperating with the inner end of said hollow tubular member to maintain said connecting passageway in communication with said outlet passageway.

2. A device for dispensing tluent materials which comprises a container having a chamber, said chamber having an outlet passageway including a discharge port at one end opening externally of said chamber, a hollow tubular member positioned at the other end of said outlet passageway and extending back into said chamber, said hollow tubular member having its discharge end seated against the inner edge of said outlet passageway, to dene a connecting passageway between said chamber and said outlet passageway, the discharge end of said hollow tubular member being provided with discharge ports, and a plurality of radially disposed spokes within said chamber attached to and cooperating with the inner end of said hollow tubular member to maintain said connecting passageway in communication with said outlet passageway.

3. A device for dispensing fluent materials which comprises a container defining a chamber, said chamber having an outlet passageway including a discharge port at one end opening externally of said chamber and a hollow tubular member positioned at the other end of said outlet passageway, said hollow tubular member defining a connecting passageway between said chamber and said outlet passagewa, a rst zone including that portion of said chamber disposed along said hollow tubular member and a second zone into which said connecting passageway terminates in open communication, a support means within said chamber to maintain said connecting passageway in communication with said outlet passageway, said support means comprising an inner circular member positioned about said hollow tubular member, an outer circular member positioned about the inner surface of said chamber, and a plurality of radially disposed spokes connecting said inner circular member with said outer circular member such that said connecting passageway is maintained in communication with said outlet passageway.

4. A device for dispensing iluent materials which comprises a container having a chamber having an outlet passageway terminating in a discharge port, and a fixture in said chamber comprising a hollow tube open at both ends, one end of said tube being seated against the inlet edge of said outlet passageway and being provided with discharge ports opening into said outlet passageway, the xture further including a bracket attached to the inner, opposite end of said hollow tube and adapted to contact the inside wall of said chamber, for holding said bracket in operative position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,529 Hopkins Apr. 28, 1925 1,699,532 Hopkins Ian. 22, 1929 2,297,690 Nitardy Oct. 6, 1942 

